Individuals in International Law: A Historical Shift towards Agency

With the end of the Second World War, the deficiencies of the traditional State-centred approach, grounded on the principle of sovereignty, became evident. Elaborating on the limitations of the State-solo legal doctrine, this article provides insights into the evolution of the individual’s legal personality in international law, highlighting the decline of State-centrism and the rise of new actors and principles. To address this research goal, the article first explores the concept of legal personality and foundational views on individual subjectivity, then traces the progressive recognition of individuals’ autonomy, and finally assesses how the human rights paradigm has strengthened individual empowerment.